Voting-table and ballot-box



PATENTED MAR. l, -19Q4.

z sums-snm 1.

Silvana@ No. 753,526. Y

L. W. SPRAGUB. VOTING TABLE AND BALLoT BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 31. 1903*. N0 MODEL.

YH: Noms PETERS co.A PHoTo-Llwo. wAsHmoroN. Dv c.

No. 753,526.v

L. W. SPRAGUB.

y VOTING TABLE AND BALLOT BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 31. 1903.

No iaoDBL.

PATENTED MAR.` 1, 19704..

UNITED STATES Patented March 1, 1904. y l

PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE WELLS SPRAGUE, OF GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN.

VOTING-TABLE AN D BALLOT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 753,526, datedMaz-ch 1, 1904. Application led March 3l 1903. Serial No. 1450450. (No model.)V

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, `LAWRENCE WELLS SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigam'have invented a new and useful Voting-Table and Ballot-Box,

of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a voting-table and ballot-box.

. The object of the present invention is to improve the construction. of ballot-boxes and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one designed, primarily, to be mounted in a tableor similar support and adapted to permit the entire top of the table or support to be used for clerical purposes while voting is in progress as well as for counting' the bal lots after the polls have been closed.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the surreptitious introduction or removal of ballots into or from the box. complished by rendering it impossible to expose the vote-receiving aperture in the box without first locking the box in position in the table or to remove or partly withdraw the box without iirst closing and locking the box itself and the vote-receiving aperture therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient device for enabling the keyhole and the vote-receiving aperture in the ballot-box -to be sealed with a single seal. This is especially important where la noon recess is taken and where the law provides that during such recess the ballot-box shall be closed and-sealed and also where-the law requires thatv after being counted and tabulated the ballots shall be restored to the ballot-box and the box locked and sealed until the next election.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion,

and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be made without de-` parting` from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

This is ac- In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a table provided with a plurality of ballotboxes constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a Afront elevation `of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken transversely of the ballot-boxes. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of one of the ballot-boxes. Fig. 5 is an enlarged'detail perspective view of a portion of one of the ballot-boxes,illustrating the manvner of sealing the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same,the` slide being moved inward to expose` the ballot-receiving aperture of the ballot-box. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the construction of the ballot-chute. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal sectional view of the same, the slide being drawn outward, locked, and sealed.

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of the lock. Y Fig. 1l is a detail View of the bolt.

Like numerals of referencedesignate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawl ings.

' l designates a table forming a casing or support for a series of ballot-boxes 2; but the latter instead of being mounted in a table or stand,as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, may be applied to any other form of casing or support. The table, which may be constructed in any desired manner, is provided with a flat top 3, and its legs 4 are'connected by upper and lower bars, which form, with the legs, the frame of the table. The table is provided with vertical partitions 5, dividing the space within the frame of the table into compartments for the reception of the ballotboxes, suitable guides or ways being provided for the latter, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Horizontal guidebars or strips 6 are arranged to receive and support the ballot-boxes, and guidebars o r strips?y are interposed between the outer ballot-boxes and the upper and lower side'bars of the table. The frame of the table maybe' constructed in any other desired manner, and the "ballot boxes when unlocked, as hereinafter explained, are adapted to be withdrawn from the compartments of the table.

Each ballot-box is provided at the top with a slidable cover 8, having side flanges 9, ar-

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.ranged in suitable grooves 10 of the inner faces of the side walls of the ballot-boxes; but any other desired means may be employed for slidably mounting the cover 8. The rear wall 11 of the ballot-box terminates short of the grooves or ways for the cover, and the latter is removable at the back of the box. The front wall12 oi' the ballot-box extends above the cover 8 and is provided at its inner face with a groove 13, which receives the front endv of the cover when the ballot-box is closed, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8 of the drawings. The front end of the cover is provided with a projecting Hange 14 to fit the groove 13, and when the ballot-box is in the table, as shown in Fig. 4, the lid lits against the upper rear bar of the table, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the lid will be retained in the ways of the ballot-box when the latter is in its cornpartment of the table.

The table is provided. at its top at each compartment with a depending chute 15, having its upper end arranged within an opening of the table and provided thereat with an outwardly-extending horizontal liange 16. The liange 16 is adapted for the reception of suitable fastening devices for securing it to the table, and the top of the latter is preferably provided with an exterior recess 17 for the reception of the said flange 16 and for a hinged lid or cover 18. The lid or. cover 18, which is hinged at one end at 19, is adapted to be opened to expose the chute, and it is designed to cover the upper end of the same when the ballot-box is removed from the table. The lids or covers 18 when closed are located below the upper face of the top of the table, and the latter presents a smooth top and is adapted to be conveniently used when counting the ballots.

The slidablecover of the ballot-box is provided with an aperture 20, adapted to register with the lower end of the chute, and in order to enable the openings to be brought into proper register the cover is provided with an upwardly-extending sleeve or chute section 21, fixed to a plate 22, and cut away at the back 23, as shown, to receive the lower end of the chute. The front wall of the sleeve or chute section 21 abuts against the front wall of the lower portion of the depending chute, and the rear wall of the sleeve or section 21 lies below the rear wall of the chute. By this construction a continuous chute or passage is provided for causing the ballots to positively drop into the ballot-box. The plate 22 is angularly bent at opposite sides to provide side flanges 24 and to offset the intermediate body portion from the plane of the upper face of the cover to form a way 25 for a slide 26. The slide 26, which is also arranged in a guide or keeper 2 7, is provided with a main aperture 28, adapted when the slide is moved inward to be brought into register with the ballot-receiving aperture 20 of the slidable cover. The outer portion of the slide is also provided with a slot or opening 29, adapted when the slide is drawn outward, as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, to register with a corresponding slot or opening 30 of the cover to receive the .lower engaging end of a bolt 31 of a lock 32, whereby both the cover and the slide will be locked in the position shown in Fig. 8. Then the slide is drawn outward to the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the main aperture 28 is carried out of register with the ballot-receiving aperture 20, and an imperforate portion of the slide covers the aperture 20 and closes the ballot-box to prevent anyiballots from being placed in the same. The lock 32 is mounted on the inner face of the projecting upper portion of the front wall of the ballot-box and lies above the slidable cover 8, and the bolt 31 is adapted to engage either the front bar of the table or the slide and the cover. When the bolt is thrown upward to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 8, the ballot-box is locked in the compartment of the table and the slide is released and is adapted to be moved inward to carry the main aperture into register with the aperture 20 of the cover. While the bolt is in this position, the cover is held between the front wall of the ballot-box and the rear bar of the table. When it is desired to remove the ballot-box from the table for any purpose, it is necessary to draw the slide outward. This movement covers the aperture 2O and brings the slot or opening 29 into register with the slot or opening of the cover 8. The bolt is then drawn downward to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, thereby locking both the slide and the cover. This movement also disengages the bolt from the table, and the ballot-box may be removed.

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The front wall of the ballot-box is provided near its upper edge with a keyhole 33, and the slide has a hinged flap or section 34 at its outer end. This flap or section is provided at its inner edge with eyes 35, adapted to register with an eye 36 ofthe body portion of the slide and receive a suitable pintle. When the slide is drawn outward to the position shown in Fig. 8, the hinge-joint is carried beyond the front wall of the ballot-box through a slot or opening 37 and is adapted `to be swung upward, as shown, to cover the keyhole. The hinged section or iapmay be sealed in this position by any suitable means, and the keyhole and the ballot-receiving aperture 2O of the ballot-box will be thus sealed in compliance with the laws of some States. The hinged flap may be provided with a slot or opening 38 to receive a projecting eye 39, and a seal 40 may be conveniently applied to the same. The outward movement of the slide is limited by a stop 41, projecting from the upper face of the cover and arranged in the path of a shoulder 42 of the said slide.` The outer portion of the slide is reduced, as shown, to

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The' ballot-boxes are provided at their front Walls With suitable pulls 43 for enabling lthem to be conveniently removed from the compartments of the table. j

rlhe lock may be of any desired construction, and While it is preferable to employ a double-acting lock'of the character illustrated in theaccompanying drawings a plurality of locking devices may be employed, if desired, for securing the several results before eX- plained. w n f Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, vand desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi w l. The combination of a table having compartments and provided at its top with recesses and having apertures at the bottoms of the recesses, chutes depending from the apertures and provided with liiangessecured in the said recesses, lids mounted in the recesses for covering the apertures, and ballot-boxes having apertures for registering With the said chutes,

substantially asdescribed.

r2.. The combination of a table provided at the top With apertures and having recesses thereat,.lids mounted Within the recessesand adapted When closed to liewithin the same,`

ballot-boxes arranged Within the table and provided With apertures to register Withthose of the table, and means for closing the apertures of the ballot-boxes When the latter are removed from the table, substantially as'described.

3. The combination of a casing having an aperture andprovided With a depending chute, a ballot-box'arrangedvvithin the casing and having 'an aperture'to register With that of I the casing, and a sleeve or chute section mounted on the ballot-box at the aperture thereof and arranged to receive and engage the chute, and means for locking the ballot-box in the casing and for closing the aperture of the ballot-box When the same is removed from the casing, substantially as described.

`et. The combination of a casing having an aperture and provided with a depending chute, a ballot-box removably arranged Within the casing and having an aperture and provided with a projecting sleeve or chute section arranged to receive the saidchute, a slide mounted on the ballot-box Iand adapted to be moved to cover and expose the ballot-box aperture,

and means for locking theV slide -When the ballot-box is removed from the casing and for releasing the slide When the ballot-box is placed in the casing, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a casing provided at the top With an aperture, a ballot-box having an aperture to register With that of the casing, a movable closure carried by the ballotbox for covering and uncovering the aperture, and locking mechanism carried by the ballot-box and arranged to engage either the Y a movable member connectedwith the slide casing or the closure for securing the ballotboX in the casing and releasing theclosure and for securing the closure and releasing the ballot-box, substantially as described.

'6. The combination of acasinghaving an aperture and provided with a chute, a ballotbox provided with an aperture and having a projecting sleeve or chute section cut away at one side to receive the chute, a slide arranged to cover thek aperture of the ballot-box, and means for locking the slide, substantially 'as described.. l

7. `The combination of a ballot-box having V an aperture, a movable. closure'arranged to cover and uncover the aperture, and a locking 8O with an aperture, a slide arranged to cover and uncover the aperture, a locking device carried bythe ballot-box for engaging the slide, and

and arranged to cover-the locking device and adapted to receive a seal, substantially as described. f v

5 9. The combination of a ballot-box having an aperture, a slide arranged to cover and uncover the aperture, a locking device mounted on the ballot-box for engaging the slide, and a hinged flap carried by the 4slide and arranged to cover the locking device When the same is in engagement with the slide, substantially asdescribed.

` l0. The combination of aballot-box provided With an'aperture, a slide arrangedto cover and uncover the aperture and having a hinged iiap projecting beyond the ballot-box When the aperture is covered by the slide, and a locking device mounted on the ballot-box and.

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arranged to be covered by the hinged iap, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a ballot-box pro-` IlO vided with an aperture, a slide having an aperture to register With that of the ballot-box and providedl With a slot-'or opening, land a locking device arranged to engage the slot or opening of the slide when the aperture thereofl vis out of register with that of the ballot-box,

substantially as described. r l

l2. The combination of a ballot-box having an aperture, aslide provided With an aperture to register With that of the ballot-box and having -a slot or opening, and a-locking device arl ranged to engage the slot or opening of the slide When the aperture thereof is out of register With thatof the ballot-box, said locking device being also arranged to lock the' ballotbox in a-casing or support When out of engagement with the slide, substantially as described. y

13. The Y combination of a ballot-box provided at the front with a keyhole and having an aperture for ballots, a locking device 1ocated at the keyhole, a slide having an aperture to register with that of the ballot-box and provided With a slot or opening arranged to be engaged by the locking device When the said apertures are out of register, and a flap hinged to the outer end of the slide and located beyond the ballot-box when the locking device is in engagement with the slot or opening, substantially as described.

14. rIhe combination of a ballot-box having a cover provided with an aperture, a slide having an aperture to register with that of the cover and provided with a slot or opening, and a locking device arranged to engage the slot or opening of the slide when the aperture thereof is out of engagement With that of the cover and adapted to extend through the slide and engage the cover, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a casing, a ballotboX having a cover provided With an aperture, a locking device mounted on the ballot-box and arranged to engage either the casing or the` cover, and a slide arranged to cover and uncover the aperture of the ballot-box and provided with a slot or opening arranged to be engaged by the locking device when the aperture of the ballot-box is covered, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a casing, a ballotbox having an aperture and provided Withva cover, a locking device arranged to engage either the cover or the casing, and a movable closure arranged to cover and uncover the aperture of the ballot-box and adapted to be engaged by the locking device When the aperture of the latter is covered, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a casing, a ballotbox provided with a cover having an aperture, alocking device mounted on the ballot-box and arranged to engage either the cover or the casing, and a slide having an aperture to register with that of the cover and provided with a slot or opening arranged to receive the locking device When the apertures are out of register, said slide being also provided with a movable member arranged to cover the locking device when the same is in engagement with the slide and the cover, substantially as described.

18. The combination of a casing, a ballotbox provided Witha slidable cover removable from the back and having an aperture, alcol;- ing device located at the front of the ballotbox and arranged to engage the cover, and a movable closure arranged to cover and uncover the aperture and having a slot or opening arranged to receive the locking device when the aperture is covered, substantially as described.

19. The combination of a casing, a ballotbox provided with a slidable cover removable at the rear and provided With an aperture, a slide arranged to cover and uncover the aperture and extending through the front of the ballot-box and having a hinged section or flap, said slide being also provided With a slot or opening, and a locking device arranged at the front of the ballot-box and having a keyhole arranged `to be covered by the hinged section or iiap, said locking device being adapted to engage either the casing or the cover, and the slot or opening of the slide being in position to receive the locking device when the aperture of the cover is closed, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a ballot-box having a cover provided with an aperture, a sleeve extending from the aperture, a plate supporting the sleeve and forming a guide, a slide arranged in the guide and having ashoulder, means carried by the cover for engaging the shoulder to limit the movement of the slide, and locking mechanism for engaging the cover and the slide, substantially as described.

21. The combination of a casing o1' support having an aperture, a ballot-box mounted in the casing or support and provided with a corresponding aperture and having Ways and provided therein with a slidable cover, said Ways having an open end at a point remote from the front of the ballot-box, whereby the cover is retained in the Ways when the ballotbox is in place, substantially as described.

22. lhe combination of a table having a plurality of apertures and provided With Ways open at one end and closed atthe other, aplurality of ballot-boxes having apertures and provided With slidable covers removable at the back, whereby they Will be retained in place When the ballot-boxes are in the table, and means for locking the ballot-boxes in place, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

LAWRENCE WELLS SPRAGUE.

Witnesses: v

Burns F. SPRAGUE, PAUL VAN DEINSE.

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